Summer Camp for Puppies and Other Things

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This summer my wife and I have suddenly found ourselves with a new vocation  we have become puppy-sitters for family and friends. Wait. Let me correct myself, more than mere puppy-sitting, we in fact operate what might be called a doggy B&B, or a summer retreat for pooches. The Crosby Camp for Puppies.

The top reasons we fell into this role are because: 1) we have a private house and a fairly good size yard, 2) we are at home most of the time, 3) we have no vacation plans this summer, 4) we love dogs, 5) we don t charge our family and friends any money to care for their pets, 6) since we lost our sweet golden retriever, Moose, we have become two pathetically sad dog-less people who are given the temporary use of others' dogs out of pity.

I should mention before the phone starts ringing off the hook, that we are doing this for our family and friends only. This offer IS NOT available to others. Sorry.

In any case, doggy summer camp at the Crosby house is fine with us. We truly enjoy having the canine presence in our home once again and it certainly does keep the old endorphins working at warp speed.

Judge John Roberts, President Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court, is a highly respected judge, a Washington insider, and generally well-liked by people who know him, both Democrat and Republican. He is no far-right ideologue, by all indications he is a moderately conservative guy who follows the law and does not believe in legislating from the bench. That's why we can expect the left-wing Democrats to wage war on this appointee  because any judge who is not radically liberal, any judge who will not use his power to push the left-wing agenda is simply unacceptable to the Ted Kennedys, and Barbara Boxers of the world.

The Left realized long ago that their thinking has parted ways with mainstream America and that they wouldn't be able to get their far-left programs and ideas approved by the majority of voters. Their only way of achieving their aims, therefore, is to appoint activist liberal judges to the courts. Judges with the exact same far-left ideas that they have. That's why they will hammer Judge Roberts any and everyway they can. It is not that Roberts is so radically right-wing  it is that he's not radically left-wing.

For liberal Democrats, it is not enough for a nominee to be a highly qualified jurist who interprets the law and rules on it; they want a judge who will write new liberal laws without regard for the Constitution. Folks, guess what?  It is not the job for judges to make law. Our legislators make the laws (hopefully in accordance with the will of the people). It is the job for judges to uphold our laws and pass judgments in keeping with our Constitution. That's not my opinion, that's the way our country is set up  but you see, that is just one more thing the Left would like to change. That's why I say this confirmation hearing will make for a long, hot summer.

I saw War of the Worlds and here's what I thought of it: Yes, the technical effects are excellent, after that .zzzzz. The acting overall didn't thrill me. Tom Cruise didn't thrill me, but then he never does, so I guess I wasn't disappointed. The two kids who played Cruise's children annoyed me a lot. The story (even for a sci-fi picture) was full of so many holes they were hard to overlook. The volume was ear-shattering. And most of all, when you go to see a sci-fi movie you should get a few surprises, there were no surprises here. Outside of all that, the movie wasn't bad.

Want some GOOD movie news? There are two brand new DVD collections which are must-haves in my house. The complete Thin Man films will be available on DVD next month. Nick and Nora Charles (played perfectly by William Powell and Myrna Loy) along with their faithful pup, Asta, will be featured in all six of their MGM movies as part of a boxed set. The set also includes a special documentary disc on the series.

Also coming out next month is the first Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers collection. The 5-disc boxed set will include The Barkleys of Broadway,  Follow the Fleet,  Shall We Dance,  and Top Hat.  This marks the first time any Astaire & Rogers films have been made available on DVD. It's about time!

Quote of the week: I would rather live my life as if there is a G-d and die to find out there isn't, than to live my live as if there isn't a God and die to find out there is. 

JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a
letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.